CancerCompass message board discussion started by dunebug on 10/18/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17216,0.htm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi everyone --My friend was diagnosed about 6 months ago with ovarian cancer. It came out of the blue -- one day she was rollerblading and feeling fine but concerned that she was gaining weight, the next weekend she was throwing up and had to be hospitalized. She had a tumor on her ovary the size of a grapefruit. They did a full hysterectomy and removed her ovaries -- everything -- found a smaller second tumor and couldn't decide if she had one cancer Stage 3 that had spread to the ovary, or two separately -occuring cancers, so they got a second opinion from Mass. General which concluded it was probably two separate cancers, one endometrial and one ovarian, both Stage 3, grade B. She has completed six rounds of Taxol/Carbo -- side effects were awful but they have finally now found the magic formula of anti-nausea meds that keep her from throwing up. Her chemo doctor said she has proven to be a good responder -- her ca 125 is somewhere in the 20s and her blood work is good except for the red blood cells. She has asked her to consider maintenance chemo of Taxol only -- we don't yet know how often or for how long. Her doctor said the Taxol side effects on its own aren't so bad. She needs to get back to work and of course is going through "chemo burn out" -- she was so excited to finish her final dose. We are wondering if anyone here can relate their experience or knowledge of maintenance chemo treatment and whether it has significant long-term benefits, if you were able to go back to work, etc...Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide as she prepares to make this important decision.-- Liz dunebug Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I mistakenly said in my previous message that the second opinion concluded the tumors were both Stage 3, grade B -- this is NOT TRUE -- but I can't figure out how to edit my old message. They said they believed they were both Stage 1, grade B. Below is my old message corrected.Hi everyone --My friend was diagnosed about 6 months ago with ovarian cancer. It came out of the blue -- one day she was rollerblading and feeling fine but concerned that she was gaining weight, the next weekend she was throwing up and had to be hospitalized. She had a tumor on her ovary the size of a grapefruit. They did a full hysterectomy and removed her ovaries -- everything -- found a smaller second tumor and couldn't decide if she had one cancer Stage 3 that had spread to the ovary, or two separately -occuring cancers, so they got a second opinion from Mass. General which concluded it was probably two separate cancers, one endometrial and one ovarian, both Stage 1, grade B. She has completed six rounds of Taxol/Carbo -- side effects were awful but they have finally now found the magic formula of anti-nausea meds that keep her from throwing up. Her chemo doctor said she has proven to be a good responder -- her ca 125 is somewhere in the 20s and her blood work is good except for the red blood cells. She has asked her to consider maintenance chemo of Taxol only -- we don't yet know how often or for how long. Her doctor said the Taxol side effects on its own aren't so bad. She needs to get back to work and of course is going through "chemo burn out" -- she was so excited to finish her final dose. We are wondering if anyone here can relate their experience or knowledge of maintenance chemo treatment and whether it has significant long-term benefits, if you were able to go back to work, etc...Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide as she prepares to make this important decision.-- LizPrivate Reply Quote   Reply to This Message Records 1-1 of 1 Email a Friend Sending... All fields are required. User IgnoredHide all messages from this user User is No longer IgnoredShow messages from this user Report AbuseAnonymous Note to Administrator:Reporting Post a New Message Message Center Help & FAQs--->RSS Feeds Latest Messages Discuss Email Print Save More CancerCompass SM : About Us Member's Personalized Home Page RSS / Podcast Weekly Newsletter Contact Us Sponsored Resources: Cancer Treatment Cancer Nutrition Cancer Research Disclaimer Guidelines Online Service Agreement Privacy Policy URL: http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17216 © Copyright 2007, International Capital & Management Company, LLLP http://www.opinionlab.com ---> dunebug Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Sorry to hear about your friends dx. But...stage 1 is very early and good prognosis.  I too have had 6 treatments of carbo/taxol in 2003 for stage 3 ovarian ca.  Feb.2007 cancer back, had another 9 treatments, just finished and had 8 weeks off. I am now starting Maintaince chemo with taxol, so far "not too bad" if that is possible. Side effects are minimal, but only had 1 treatment. I am sure as the weeks go by my bloodwork will show a downward trend. Keep praying and live your life.thanks. Debbieinva Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I was dx with    3C sept 06, did 6 rounds of taxol/cisplatin..in sept of this year I started on "Maintenance" chemo on the protocol rx'd by Dr. Saul Rivkin at Swedish Hosp in Seattle, Wa. I have a port in my chest and an IP..On day one I take Taxol in my chest, on day 2 I take Cisplatin in my IP...on day 8 I take Doxarubicin in my chest followed by Taxol in my IP.  I then get 2 weeks off and then it starts over. I am not the kind of person who can sit patiently and wait for reoccurance so I actively sought a doc with a maintenance plan. I work full time as a nurse,Im tired by the end of the day but the first chemo go round I stayed home and that totally sucked, way too much time on my hands. As long as you can educate yourself AND have a MD who offers options I think each person has to choose for themselves. Some people (10%) have one go round of chemo and they never see a relapse, the rest of us have to deal with the chronicity of ovarian cancer. I personally just want it to go away and if I think too much about it I feel very sad.......so I work and am good an tired after work so I dont have too much energy for thinking.The NCI (national cancer institute) says IP chemo is the gold standard for Ovarian cancer, I might read what they have to say..good luck and keep your spirits up..colleen. Redboots Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT colleen, diane & i have been looking for u! i guess if u're working u must be ok! when i read your chemo menu i feel zapped!was your ca125 up? i seem to be ok for now, still on my guard tho, searching the internet for a miracle cure; am taking a million supps after reading a book on how to increase your immunity in 30 days, i definitely think the key lies there, one's immunity. try & answer us, we really care! harriet Harrietg. Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 10/18/2007 dunebug wrote:Hi everyone --My friend was diagnosed about 6 months ago with ovarian cancer. It came out of the blue -- one day she was rollerblading and feeling fine but concerned that she was gaining weight, the next weekend she was throwing up and had to be hospitalized. She had a tumor on her ovary the size of a grapefruit. They did a full hysterectomy and removed her ovaries -- everything -- found a smaller second tumor and couldn't decide if she had one cancer Stage 3 that had spread to the ovary, or two separately -occuring cancers, so they got a second opinion from Mass. General which concluded it was probably two separate cancers, one endometrial and one ovarian, both Stage 3, grade B. She has completed six rounds of Taxol/Carbo -- side effects were awful but they have finally now found the magic formula of anti-nausea meds that keep her from throwing up. Her chemo doctor said she has proven to be a good responder -- her ca 125 is somewhere in the 20s and her blood work is good except for the red blood cells. She has asked her to consider maintenance chemo of Taxol only -- we don't yet know how often or for how long. Her doctor said the Taxol side effects on its own aren't so bad. She needs to get back to work and of course is going through "chemo burn out" -- she was so excited to finish her final dose. We are wondering if anyone here can relate their experience or knowledge of maintenance chemo treatment and whether it has significant long-term benefits, if you were able to go back to work, etc...Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide as she prepares to make this important decision.-- Liz Thank you so much for responding. I am forwarding replies to my friend to help her in her decision-making process. It's so hard to know...her cancer, we think, was in an earlier stage, so I'm sure she's tempted to just get on with life. (She had a very bad time with nausea at first, then they tried different anti-nausea drugs and that helped, but she still was totally out of it, and nauseus, just not throwing up, so she can't imagine she could work while getting maintenance chemo). I don't think her doctors ever mentioned IP chemo to her...Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience and keep your spirits up. I will send good thoughts in your direction.Many thanks,Liz dunebug Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 11/1/2007 Redboots wrote:I was dx with    3C sept 06, did 6 rounds of taxol/cisplatin..in sept of this year I started on "Maintenance" chemo on the protocol rx'd by Dr. Saul Rivkin at Swedish Hosp in Seattle, Wa. I have a port in my chest and an IP..On day one I take Taxol in my chest, on day 2 I take Cisplatin in my IP...on day 8 I take Doxarubicin in my chest followed by Taxol in my IP.  I then get 2 weeks off and then it starts over. I am not the kind of person who can sit patiently and wait for reoccurance so I actively sought a doc with a maintenance plan. I work full time as a nurse,Im tired by the end of the day but the first chemo go round I stayed home and that totally sucked, way too much time on my hands. As long as you can educate yourself AND have a MD who offers options I think each person has to choose for themselves. Some people (10%) have one go round of chemo and they never see a relapse, the rest of us have to deal with the chronicity of ovarian cancer. I personally just want it to go away and if I think too much about it I feel very sad.......so I work and am good an tired after work so I dont have too much energy for thinking.The NCI (national cancer institute) says IP chemo is the gold standard for Ovarian cancer, I might read what they have to say..good luck and keep your spirits up..colleen.(Oops...I'm still trying to get the hang of this board...accidentally replied to myself)!Hi Colleen -- Thank you so much for responding. I am forwarding replies to my friend to help her in her decision-making process. It's so hard to know...her cancer, we think, was in an earlier stage, so I'm sure she's tempted to just get on with life. (She had a very bad time with nausea at first, then they tried different anti-nausea drugs and that helped, but she still was totally out of it, and nauseus, just not throwing up, so she can't imagine she could work while getting maintenance chemo). I don't think her doctors ever mentioned IP chemo to her...Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience and keep your spirits up. I will send good thoughts in your direction.Many thanks,Liz dunebug Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT